Good to Great

¶ … Jim Collins, this can be done with some restructuring and changing priorities. The breakthrough to becoming a great company does not happen over night in one big event, but instead after a company has built up enough forward momentum to make the leap. The following are some of the parameters that set "great" companies apart, according to Collins. Good-to-Great leaders are unpretentious about their achievements and ascribe their successes to external rather than personal factors. However, they accept blame for failure.

They are determined to accomplish whatever is needed despite the difficulty or degree of challenge. They set high standards for others, motivating them by demanding excellence and acting as a role model. Collins calls this level 5 leadership. Good-to-Great leaders first and foremost hire the right leadership team, then develop the plan as a collaborative effort among these hand-picked individuals. Good-to-Great companies do not cover up bad news, but seek out the truth about themselves and the circumstances to better everyone in continuous improvement.

This stresses the importance of asking the tough questions and creating an environment where the truth can be heard. Collins likens the Good-to-Great companies to hedgehogs: They are very good at doing one big thing. They are able to simplify a complex business into a single organizing concept that leads everything else. This does not mean that the businesses themselves are uncomplicated. However, the Good-to-Great leaders are able to see beyond the complexities and determine the fundamental economic driver of the business.

The Hedgehog Concept is based upon the ancient Greek parable of "The Hedgehog and the Fox." The fox is a very cunning and crafty creature, but it's the hedgehog with its simple defense mechanism that always walks away unscathed. The Hedgehog Concept stresses the importance of understanding what you can and can't do best. Sticking to "focusing solely on what you can potentially do better than any other organization is the only path to greatness." Good-to-Great companies have disciplined people, with disciplined thinking and disciplined action.

They assume responsibility for their performance and for the.